Disaster Recovery Jobs Program

2013·5.4 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Economic Development, Division of Workforce Development

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MISSOURI DISASTER RECOVERY JOBS PROGRAM
1111111111
Department of Economic Development
Contents
Background 4
Opportunity 6
Testimony 8
Regions 10
Partners 22
Video Attached
IN 2011, THE GREAT STATE OF MISSOURI WAS RAVAGED WITH THE WORST FLOODING AND THE
Background
TO
say Missouri people and their communities are resilient is... an understatement. In 2011, Missouri was slammed
with natural disasters truly testing the mettle of all Missourians. From thousands of acres of land flooded by the
Missouri River in the northwest, to thousands more flooded by the Mississippi River in the southeast, to an EF-4
tornado striking St. Louis, and one month later an EF-5 tornado literally ripping across the cities of Joplin and Duquesne
… “resilient,” at best, is an understatement.
At every turn, Missourians and their affected communities immediately rose to the challenge putting their lives back
together. Thousands of miles of roadway and bridges were destroyed or damaged by floodwaters, and thousands of homes
and businesses were erased from the landscape by the deadliest U.S. tornado in 65 years. As serious as the tornado that hit St.
Louis April 22, 2011, was, it was dwarfed by the powerful EF-5, multiple-vortex twister that devastated Joplin and Duquesne May
22, taking 161 lives, and injuring more than 1,000 people. One common denominator was evident—people were displaced, and
they needed help.
The U.S. Department of Labor (US DOL) approved a National Emergency Grant (NEG) for $5.8 million to the Division of
Workforce Development (DWD) on May 27, and the Disaster Recovery Jobs Program (DRJP) was created. DRJP would initially
provide 400 temporary laborers to remove debris in Joplin and Duquesne. More than 17 months later, the program combines
two grants, totaling $39.2 million, operating more than 100 Worksites in over 30 counties. Expectations are the program will
employ more than 2,450 participants, as well as thousands more benefitting from their labors.
DRJP was made possible through a collaboration with the Missouri National Guard (MONG); Worksites consisting of city,
county, and non-profit agencies; nine Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs); US DOL; local businesses; educational institutions;
and DWD. The benefits of DRJP went far beyond employment. In repairing more than 1,500 miles of gravel roads and levees,
removing hundreds of tons of debris, restoring parks, coordinating volunteers, and managing donations, many lives have been
profoundly altered.
The stories have —and continue to be—amazing! DRJP gave many participants a sense of pride and accomplishment,
including those who had “the perfect job” and lost it all in the tornado. Others already had been searching for employment for
short and long periods of time. DRJP gave hundreds of participants a second chance and allowed them to upgrade skills at the
Worksites or get a “foot in the door” for future employment.
The City of Joplin, the biggest Worksite, has repeatedly stated it would not be where it is in recovering and rebuilding without
this large workforce. County commissioners across Missouri rejoiced at having their “own” unemployed people working
again and helping to clean-up their communities. The affected State Parks have been able to reopen to millions of visitors and
attendant tourism revenue. Local businesses were able to stay open due to DRJP purchases and now enjoy better economic
conditions. Local residents like to see tax dollars working in their “own backyard.” The perception of the plight of unemployed
has changed in many areas, and the long-lasting partnerships established are too numerous to count.
DWD continues to take a lot of pride in the DRJP, and the agency hopes you enjoy this brochure and video.
Sincerely,
Jeriane Jaegers Julie Gibson Steve Danner
National Emergency Grant Coordinator Director, Division of Workforce Development Major General
Division of Workforce Development Department of Economic Development Missouri National Guard
4
Flooding in northwest (above) and southeast Missouri (below
right) was a sharp contrast to the devastation experienced by the
communities of Joplin (left and below left) and Duquesne when
they were hit with an EF-5 tornado May 22, 2011.
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Opportunity
FROM TOP LEFT:
Workers in the Ozark
Region; Participant
flags traffic during
roadwork in South
Central Region; Debris
workers in Duquesne;
Participants at local
partnership in Joplin
organize donations for
tornado victims.
Life Changing Opportunity: A Participant Story
If someone were to describe Kasi Mallatt’s story in one word it would be “opportunity.” Just before the
Joplin tornado hit Mallatt was buying drugs from a friend, little did she know in a matter of minutes her
life would be changed forever. Seeing her community surrounded by destruction and loss,
she saw the tornado as a sign to turn her life around for the better. Since
that day Mallatt has not used drugs and was hired on as a
participant for the DRJP, later gaining full-
time employment in Joplin. Mallatt’s story
is unique, but she is not alone among
the numerous participants that have used
this program to make a positive change in
themselves and their community.
Saint Louis Counyt Region: EF-4 Tornado hits
April 22, 2011
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Local Project Operators
WIB Director Melissa Robbins and DRJP Project Coordinator
Truett Ray, manage the DRJP project in the South Central
Region. They say they have seen positive impacts from all
aspects including: participants, local residents, businesses and
the overall economy. Ray, credits the programs uniqueness
in that both long-time workers and those just entering the
workforce are able to learn skills that lead them to gainful
employment. Robbins agrees, adding that without the program
many would still be without work.
Workers clean up downed trees from flooding in the West Central Region. Flood waters
caused trees to block roadways and ditches.
Southern Flooding: New Madrid levee is breached
Southern Flooding: 434 road closures and city evacuations with 500,000 acres of land under water
April 26, 2011 May 2, 2011
• •
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Testimony
“ ”
I would love to hire all of them if and when Scott County can afford it.
--Jamie Burger, Presiding Commissioner for Scott County, Southeast Region
t
“... a sense of pride in my community”
u
“... it stimulated the economy”
FROM TOP LEFT:
Participants departing after
debris removal in Duquesne;
cleanup in the heart of town in
Ozark Region.
“
I think it is a good idea-giving folks jobs and helping clean-up storm
”
damage. I got lucky.
--Donald Henderson, Howell County, South Central Region
Saint Louis Counyt Region: FEMA 1980 Declaration announced Southwest Region: EF-5 Tornado hits Joplin and Duquesne
May 9, 2011 May 22, 2011
•
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“
Everything is real good down here. This program has helped
”
a lot. I had no job, no income. I’m glad to work.
– Cortez Wallace, Debris Removal, Sam A. Baker State Park
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workforce.
I think it is a good idea-giving folks jobs and helping clean-up storm
damage. I got lucky. Sincerely,
--Donald Henderson, Howell County, South Central Region
BWyartoenr/ SLeywoenrs Department, City of Potosi, Central Region
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Regions
Every Missouri region and county assisted through the DRJP is unique from rural to urban,
lowest to highest State unemployment rates and Public Works Departments and non-profits
with and without an infrastructure. As different as these areas may be, the residents are similar
in one big way, they have pride in their community. Before the disasters, many residents and
Counties had already been battling a storm of economic uncertainty. This program brought
spirit back into the lives of residents and communities found the DRJP to be a silver lining in
the midst of destruction. The DRJP allowed Missouri to come together, grow and strengthen
the local and state economy.
Atchison Nodaway Worth Harrison Mercer Putnam Scotland Clark
Gentry Sullivan
Kno,
Grundy Lewis
Linn Macon
Shelby
Chariton
Randolph
St Charles County
Region
St Louis City
Region
East Jackson
County Region Saint LRoeugiiso Cn ounty
Phelps
West Central
Region
Central Region 1-26
Dade
Webster Wright
Greene
Jasper 2-44 10-98
25-1,408 1-11
Southwest Region Newton Douglas Howell
1-25
5-56 Oregon
Oza<k
McDonald 1-24 1-2
South Central
Ozark Region Region Dunklin
2-34
In the above map each WIB Region is outlined. The “yellow” counties were declared for
FEMA public assistance and contain two numbers: 1) number of sites where participants are
working; 2) number of temporary workers needed to complete disaster-related work.
Southwest Region: Jasper and Newton counties added to FEMA Declaration 1980 DWD: Requests grant for temporary labor in Joplin
May 23, 2011 May 24, 2011
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